OTTAWA — A quick look at Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe:
Born: July 22, 1947, in Montreal.
Education: College Mont Saint-Louis and Universite de Montreal.
Early career: President of major Quebec student association at 21; member of Company of Young Canadians in 1970s; member of Workers Communist Party in late 1970s, but says he regrets involvement. Five years as Montreal hospital orderly, where he organized a union.
Politics: First Bloc Quebecois candidate elected to Commons, in 1990 byelection. Won party leadership 1997. Won 95.3 per cent endorsement in February 2011 party leadership review.
Family: Wife Yolande Brunelle; two children Amelie and Alexis Brunelle.
Quote: “I always said Canada is a great democracy. I don’t contest that at all. And we want our country. But we’re not denouncing other countries because we want our own country.”